Put That In Your Beer and Smoke It
Spoiler alert: This is one of the most fun, interesting, and tasty beers I’ve ever made! It started with a ridiculous idea of smoking hops with a nine-dollar cocktail smoker....
Big Monster Brewing – I Don’t Like Belgian Beers
Saying “I don’t like Belgian Beers” is the quickest way to generalize my preference over the entire range of Belgian beer styles. But, like with most things, there’s always an...
Big Monster Brewing – Air Quote Barrel Aged Old Ale
Changing one of my most awarded beers to make it a different style will prove challenging or stupid. Chances are it’s going to be a little of both as I...
Big Monster Brewing – On My Old Kentucky…Common
More and more “lost style” historical beers appear on local breweries’ taproom menus. In this episode, I will jump on that “lost style” train and make my first “Kentucky Common,”...
Big Monster Brewing – Peach Cider
For most of my adult life, I wondered how people made beer at home. The entire process was a mystery to me for many years. To solve that mystery, I...
Big Monster Brewing – Spiced Mead
Mead is the oldest known alcoholic beverage. In its simplest form, it’s honey, water, and yeast. But mead can be as diverse as the people that make this traditional fermentation....
Big Monster Brewing – The Tale of Two Scottish Ales
The malt-forward, sweet, clean, and often complex nature of a Scottish Ale is a unique and usually phenomenal experience. An experience that I rarely get to enjoy because they just...
Big Monster Brewing – Dialing in a Black IPA
In this episode, I revisit a style that was one of my first ten all-grain recipes many years ago. A Black IPA. All the hop-forward aroma and tastes you’d expect...
Big Monster Brewing – First Dark Mild, But Not The Last
Low ABV and full flavor usually don’t go together when discussing craft beer. But the classic British style “Dark Mild” can deliver both when brewed right. The BJCP Guidelines describe...
Big Monster Brewing – Gold is the New Black Stout
The fifth annual Iron Homebrew Festival and Competition is coming, and this year we were lucky enough to day espresso as our required ingredient! This beer is the fourth test...
Big Monster Brewing – Returns with an ESB
Extra Special Bitter, or Strong Bitter, is the strongest of the Bitter Beer category. Its ABV range is 4.6 to 6.2 percent, not a range that many would call strong....
Big Monster Brewing – East Drinks West Episode 5
In this “East Drinks West” episode we featured “Lager in Place” by Woodhouse Brewing in Santa Cruz, CA, and “Voodoo Pony” from Sideward Brewing in Orlando, FL.